Hi everybody,
I know I've been slacking lately on the posting. So much keeps happening and I feel like I can't catch up. I'm not going to talk about it all, in fact I'm only going to talk about a little bit of it. For the most part, I've been dealing with the stresses of moving to a new country (for three months). It seems like bureaucratic and administrative things keep getting in my way. Isn't that the case everywhere you go though?
Anyway, what I wanted to talk about today is religion. Now, it's very rare that I talk about this subject, because I do not consider myself a religious person. I think I've always identified with spiritual moreso than anything else. Now, before I talk about this, I want to clarify that I do not favor any side. I am just going to talk about the differences I've noticed since I've been here. Now, the free time that I have had (much of which has, unfortunately, been spent sleeping), I've decided to spend going to the most famous sights, you know, the ones you always hear about. Most of those places here are churches, so I guess what I like to say is that I've gone on a church binge. My first conquest was the Notre Dame. As you can probably guess, all of those places are packed with people, and since I work during the weekdays, I have to go on the weekends when the tourists are out and about. I didn't go up the towers or anything, I really just went in and walked through it. This is kind of a side note, but I do appreciate that you can go to the churches without paying, because they are a Holy place and though you can buy memorabilia, I really think it preserves something. Something sacred maybe? I'm not honestly sure what I mean to say here. Regardless, walking into a place like the Notre Dame, you get this feeling. I can't really describe it. It's like something very deep within you opens up, something that you never thought you had. Now people go to these churches especially the Notre Dame, because it's one of the sights that Paris is known for. There is so much history though, and so much belief hidden in there, that you would be a fool to walk in just to take pictures. You have to walk through and smell the many burning candles. You have to see people who kneel down, or the people who make the cross across their body and kiss their hands. It's almost like you feel their faith. It's not about going to church every Sunday or Wednesday, and it isn't about what church you belong to, or what religion you belong to. It's not about that. It's about that feeling that I'm talking about. I got the same feeling walking through St. Pierre de Montmartre and Sacre Coeur. It's beyond me, and I can't imagine walking through those places and not feeling your spirit, ah I guess that's the word I'm looking for, breathe.

It's been quite the spirit breathing exercise.


Bisous.

twenty two fifty

Ways you know you might have a bit of a language barrier thing going on:

When you give the lunch lady 22.50 euro to put on a cafeteria card for you, and when she gives you the card you find out that you paid 22.50 for the card itself, which is why you have a negative balance the first time you use it.

Got it.


Ellie

bon matin

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